Michigan Wolverines vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Match Player Stats On Oct 31, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Oct 31, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Backup quarterback Wilton Speight connected on a 12-yard touchdown pass with senior receiver Jehu Chesson with 4:57 to play lifting the No. 15 Michigan Wolverines to a 29-26 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday.

The Gophers had a chance to win the game on the final play, but quarterback Mitch Leidner's quarterback sneak from the half-yard line came up short.

Minnesota, which led by two at the half and by five late in the fourth quarter, was playing its first game under interim head coach Tracy Claeys, who took over for Jerry Kill after he abruptly retired due to health concerns on Wednesday.

The winning drive by Michigan came after a big defensive stand and a short punt by Minnesota kicker Ryan Santoso, who replaced injured All-Conference punter Peter Mortell.

The Wolverines went 40 yards in seven plays, taking almost four minutes off the clock before Speight, in for an injured Jake Rudock, hit Chesson on a slant route in the back of the end zone for Chesson's second score of the night.

Speight connected with Amara Darboh for the two-point conversion to give Michigan the final margin.

Leidner threw for 317 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a 24-yard score on a read-option keep in the third quarter, which gave Minnesota a 23-21 lead after the Wolverines' Jabrill Peppers scored from six yards out on the first drive of the second half.

Santoso connected on four field goals, including a 47-yarder early in the fourth, which gave the Gophers a 26-21 lead with 11:43 to play.

Minnesota's defense made a big play early when senior cornerback Breian Boddy-Calhoun intercepted a tipped pass, giving the Gophers the ball at midfield.

Eight plays later, Santoso connected on a 23-yard field goal to give Minnesota a 3-0 lead.

Michigan answered back with an eight-play, 57-yard drive of their own capped by a one-yard plunge by senior fullback Joe Kerridge. The drive was set up by a 42-yard kick return that gave the Wolverines the ball near midfield.

Another return, this time a 41-yard punt return by Peppers, keyed the Wolverines on their next drive. Five plays later, Rudock connected with Chesson from 13 yards out for a 14-3 lead.

Santoso's second field goal pulled the Gophers back within eight on the ensuing drive, and following a Michigan punt, Leidner connected with true freshman Rashad Still on a 52-yard scoring strike to make it 14-13. It was Minnesota's first pass play this season longer than 50 yards.

Instead of punting on fourth down with just over two minutes remaining in the half and the ball at the Minnesota 37, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh decided to go for it. The risky play backfired as Rudock was sacked and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Gophers near midfield.

Minnesota drove deep into Michigan territory and on the final play of the half, Santoso hit his third field goal, a 32-yarder giving the Gophers a 16-14 lead at the break.

NOTES: Michigan junior RB Drake Johnson (undisclosed injury) suited up and played after being limited in each of the last two games. ... Minnesota junior DT Scott Ekpe missed his second consecutive game with an undisclosed injury. Ekpe has 14 tackles in six starts this season, including two tackles for loss. ... Minnesota sophomore WR Eric Carter did not play because of an undisclosed injury. Carter made four catches for a career-high 91 yards against Nebraska two weeks ago. ... Michigan returns home for a game next Saturday against Rutgers. ... Minnesota will go on the road next Saturday and play at No. 1 Ohio State.